Browse Lessons by Topic

Intermediate

Thirds in C

Play the C Major scale harmonized in 3rds & 6ths, moving these intervals up and down the fretboard.
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Intermediate

Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 1

Learn 7th chord arpeggios in one position at a moderate tempo
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Intermediate

Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 2

Level up your 7th chord arpeggios and go faster—16th note feel at 95bpm
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Intermediate

Hypnotic Grooves: Chromatic Lines

Get started with chromaticism—here are some ideas to play over a dominant chord. Works well over C7 or Gm7 chords.
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Intermediate

Hypnotic Grooves: Arpeggio Run

Play this bebop-like arpeggio run outlining a Gm11 chord
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Advanced

Ella Fitzgerald - "Take the A Train" Solo

The classic Ella Fitzgerald solo from Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook (1957)
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Intermediate

7th Chord Voicings

Learn 8 new 7th shapes, playing G7 & B7
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Intermediate

Hypnotic Grooves: Backing Track

Here's a hypnotic backing track for you to practice your improvising. 90 BPM, Key of C.
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Fundamentals

Major Scale

The foundational scale of Western music
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Fundamentals

Intro to Rhythmic Patterns

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Fundamentals

Triads in C pt. 1

This progression in the key of C uses triads on strings 1-3
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Fundamentals

Triads in Am pt. 1

This progression in the key of Am uses triads on strings 1-3
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Fundamentals

Am Pentatonic: 1 String

Play the minor pentatonic on a single string
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Fundamentals

Am Pentatonic: Single Octave Shapes

Play the minor pentatonic in a single octave in different positions across the fretboard
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Fundamentals

Am Pentatonic: Pos. 1-3

Play the minor pentatonic in Positions 1-3, starting with the most common scale shape
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Fundamentals

Am Pentatonic: Pos. 4 & 5

Play the minor pentatonic in Positions 4 & 5
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Fundamentals

Thumbing Single Notes

Learn to play a steady rhythm on one open string.
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Fundamentals

Picking Single Notes

Learn to pick a steady rhythm on one open string.
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Fundamentals

Alternate Picking

A series of right-hand figures to build up basic alternate picking.
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Fundamentals

Thumb & Fingers

A series of right-hand figures to get your thumb and middle finger working together.
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Fundamentals

Strumming

A series of right-hand figures to teach basic strum patterns.
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Fundamentals

Riffing

Learn how a few basic riff patterns and palm muting with your right hand.
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Fundamentals

Playing on One String

Explore beginner scale patterns up and down on a single string.
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Fundamentals

Pentatonic Beginnings

Explore beginner melodies with the pentatonic scale in one position.
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Fundamentals

Major Scale Beginnings

Explore beginner melodies with the major scale scale in one position.
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Fundamentals

Building Strength & Dexterity

Work single note patterns in position to build left-hand strength & dexterity.
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Fundamentals

Introducing Slides

Learn basic technique and phrases for left-hand slides.
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Fundamentals

Introducing Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs

Learn basic technique and phrases for hammer-ons and pull-offs.
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Fundamentals

G Major (I Chord)

Learn the open G chord.
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Fundamentals

Cadd9 (IV Chord)

Learn the Cadd9 chord and switch from G to Cadd9.
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Fundamentals

D Major (V Chord)

Learn the D chord and switch from G to D.
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Fundamentals

Em (vi Chord)

Learn the Em chord and switch from G to Em.
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Fundamentals

Am (ii Chord)

Learn the Em chord and switch from G to Em.
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Fundamentals

G Major & E Minor Scales

Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals

C Major & A Minor Scales

Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals

D Major & B Minor Scales

Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals

E Major & C# Minor Scales

Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals

A Major & F# Minor Scales

Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals

Open Chords in A

Learn the fingerings for A, D, and E—the major chords in the key of A.
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Fundamentals

Dil Kya Kare Groove

Three-part guitar arrangement of the groove from Dil Kya Kare.
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Fundamentals

You Really Got Me - Beginner Groove

A three-part guitar arrangement for grooving to "You Really Got Me"
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Fundamentals

12 Bar Blues in E

The basic 12 bar blues played with powerchords and a swung 8th note feel.
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Fundamentals

First Fingerpicking

Get started with basic fingerpicking using simplified G and D chord shapes.
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Fundamentals

Right Hand Study #1

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Fundamentals

Triads in Am pt. 2

This progression in the key of Am uses triads on strings 2-4
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Fundamentals

Triads G to F pt. 1

Here's a common two-chord progression using triads on two string sets
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Fundamentals

Triads Progression 102

Combine basic triads to play this chord progression in the key of C
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Fundamentals

Triads G to F pt. 2

Here's a common two-chord progression using triads on the lower string sets
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Fundamentals

Open Chord Progressions in G

Play 4 common chord progressions using open chords in G.
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Fundamentals

Am Pentatonic: String Transportation

Move up and down the fretboard with the pentatonic scale
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Fundamentals

Born Under a Bad Sign (Riff)

A classic blues riff from the great Albert King (Stax Records, 1967).
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Fundamentals

Who Knows (Riff)

A classic riff by Jimi Hendrix —from Band of Gypsies, Live at the Fillmore East (1970)
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Fundamentals

Heart of Gold

Learn the intro & verse strumming pattern for this classic Neal Young tune.
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Fundamentals

Best Part

Try this beginner R&B progression by Daniel Cesar & H.E.R.
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Intermediate

Thank You (Riff)

Learn the riff and chord stab from this iconic funk tune by Sly & the Family Stone.
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Fundamentals

Intro to 1-6-2-5

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Intermediate

Thirds in G

Play the G Major scale harmonized in 3rds & 6ths, moving these intervals up and down the fretboard.
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Intermediate

6/8 Polyrhythm Study

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Intermediate

Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 3

Learn another position for 7th chord arpeggios in C
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Fundamentals

12 Bar Blues - Shell Voicings in E

The basic 12 bar blues played with shell voicings. Includes a turnaround in bars 11-12.
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Fundamentals

Blues Bending 1 - Key of E

Here are a few licks to help you practice bending the third in a blues. These licks work over an E blues and will sound good over an E7 chord.
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Intermediate

V7 to I Cadence

An exercise exploring the V7 to I cadence, highlighting the voice leading in the top voice of each chord.
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Fundamentals

Major Scale Patterns

Check out these patterns for warming up with the major scale.
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Intermediate

7th Chord Scale (C)

Play all the 7th chords in the key of C—using ascending 6th-string root voicings
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Intermediate

7th Chord Scale (G)

Play all the 7th chords in the key of G—using ascending 6th-string root voicings
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Intermediate

Ascending Arpeggios (C)

Play ascending 7th chord arpeggios in the key of C
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Intermediate

Ascending Arpeggios (G)

Play ascending 7th chord arpeggios in the key of G
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Intermediate

Mixolydian

Major scale variant with a b7
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Intermediate

Lydian

Major scale variant with a #4
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Intermediate

2-5-1-6 Voicings in D

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Intermediate

Jazz Blues Chord Voicings in G

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Intermediate

Californication Guitar Solo

John Frusciante's solo on "Californication"
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Intermediate

Arpeggios in C: 1,2,3,4

The first four arpeggios in the key of C
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Intermediate

Arpeggios in C: 5,6,7, 1

Ascending arpeggios from 5 to 1 in the key of C
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Intermediate

Secondary Dominant Line

An arpeggio line using a secondary dominant movement to set up the 2 chord. Key of C.
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Intermediate

Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 4

Level up your 7th chord arpeggios and go faster—16th note feel at 95bpm
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Intermediate

Dm7 to Fmaj7

Play Fmaj7 as a chord synonym for Dm7
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Intermediate

Dm7 to Am7

Play Am7 as a chord synonym for Dm7
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Intermediate

Dm9(add11)

Play Dm9add11 - an extended Dm7 chord with Fmaj7 & Am7 in the upper structure
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Intermediate

Dm6 Arpeggios

Play Dm6 to create a Dorian minor sound
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Intermediate

Dm6 to G9

Play this chord synonym - G9 for Dm6
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Intermediate

Hypnotic Grooves: Descending Line

Play this descending line over a C7 or Gm7 chord
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Intermediate

Hypnotic Grooves: Lydian Dominant Line

Play line this to create a Lydian Dominant color—using b7 and #4
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Intermediate

Hypnotic Grooves: Lydian Chord

This chord groove shifts the bass note to produce a Lydian chord—with the #4 in the bass
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Intermediate

Wind Cries Mary

The essential parts of this classic Hendrix tune
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Intermediate

Don't Think Twice

A simplified version of "Don't Think Twice"—great for working on your fingerpicking.
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Intermediate

For the Love of God Intro Lick - Steve Vai

The opening lick from a live performance
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Intermediate

China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead)

The main melody from this classic Grateful Dead tune. This is from a live recording released on the Europe '72 album.
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Intermediate

Tumbao Guitar Groove in A

This is a guitar groove with two voices (bassline and chord hits) played over a typical Afro-Cuban tumbao rhythm on congas.
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Intermediate

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (Melody)

Explore the main melody from this iconic John Mayer balled. Includes a simplified version, embellished version, and high harmony. Check out the harmonized scale exercise at the end!
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Intermediate

Althea Intro (Grateful Dead)

The intro melody from the classic studio recording.
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Intermediate

4-3-6-1 "Just the Two of Us" Voicings

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Intermediate

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lick - "Sahib Teri Bandi"

This lick comes from a chant at the midpoint of "Sahib Teri Bandi" from the album The Last Prophet (1994)
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Intermediate

Dmi(maj7)

Play Dmi(maj7) to create a tonic minor sound. Also implies V7 to i (A7 to Dm)
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Intermediate

maj7 Arpeggio Shapes

A series of shapes for Cmaj7, which can be applied to any maj7 chord by shifting the root note.
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Advanced

Mixolydian b6

Major scale variant with a b6 and b7
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Advanced

Lydian Dominant

Major scale variant with a #4 and b7
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Advanced

Phrygian Dominant (Hijaz)

Major scale variant with a b2, b6, b7
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Advanced

Double Harmonic (Mayamalavagowla)

Major scale variant with b2 and b6
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Advanced

Arpeggio Study: Dominant Extensions

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